Mobile Device Utilities
Bob presented 3 utilities that you may want on your mobile device (phone, pda, or tablet), if you have one.
- A Depth of Field calculator. The one I have is for IOS (Apple) devices, called ‘iDoF Calc’. Type in your camera model, f-stop, focal length, and distance to subject; and it immediately reports the Hyperfocal distance (distance to infinite focus), Far Limit (distance to farthest focused object), Depth of Field (focused area length), and Near Limit (distance to closest focused object).
- A Soft Box emulator. The Ipad version is called ‘Photo Soft Box’. Your screen becomes a variable light source for close-up or macro work. Intensity, shape (think barn-door type light accessories, or gradient effects), colour, and colour temperature are among the controls you have over this source. Mounting the device in a useful manner to illuminate your subject does present a bit of a challenge.
- A Light Meter. If your mobile device has a camera you may have occasion to use something like ‘LuxMeter Pro’ which takes a reading of your scene for more precise lighting setups. As you preview the scene the lux reading is presented in real time. An actual separate light meter can cost $300. This software is more like $3.00.